Chapter 466: Jiang Lai First Faints Two People, Then Drives One Away

Old Master Gu was now caught between a rock and a hard place.

If he kept Gu Yinxue, Jiang Lai would pursue accountability to the end, ultimately harming the Gu family's reputation.

If he didn't keep Gu Yinxue, the scandal from twenty-eight years ago would leak out, still harming the Gu family's reputation.

Either path led to the same outcome.

Of two evils, choose the lesser.

The old master knew he couldn't persuade Jiang Lai, and it wasn't worth upsetting her over Gu Yinxue.

As for Gu Yinxue, he could find a way to properly rein her in.

In an instant, the old master had already formed a plan in his mind, but he didn't intend to voice it now, lest a junior like Jiang Lai think he was easy to manipulate.

"I need to think it over."

Jiang Lai's eyes flickered slightly: "Do as you please, and I'll do the same."

She would also proceed according to plan.

Old Master Gu was already in his eighties, one foot in the grave, yet the shocks he'd endured in this short half-year surpassed those of his entire earlier life. Truly, a child not raised at one's knee was more likely to prioritize personal interests.

Enough, enough.

After all, it was Gu Sen and Song Shiwei, that couple, who had wronged Jiang Lai, this child.

The memorial ceremony was nearly over. The old master thought that with Song Shiwei and Gu Yinxue dealt with, things could finally be put to rest. Just as he was about to heave a sigh of relief, Jiang Lai's gaze turned toward him again, followed by Ke Zhongyu and his sister, along with the doctor they'd brought, all staring at him in unison.

Would they even let him catch his breath!

"Jiang Lai, is there anything else you want to say?" The old master's voice sounded exhausted, completely lacking the overbearing tone he'd used to lecture Song Shiwei earlier.

Jiang Lai slowly took a step closer to the old master, her gaze naturally falling on Gu Hai: "Actually, I can somewhat understand why you stopped my biological father from finding me, but why did my own uncle, after taking office, still stop my biological father from finding me?"

Though the focus seemed to be on Gu Hai, she hadn't let the old master off the hook either.

The old master nearly spat blood.

Had she found out everything?

Had Gu Sen told her everything?

Gu Hai's pupils also constricted in shock. He hadn't expected his own niece to show no regard for face at all. Even his elder brother Gu Sen, after discovering that he'd bribed Wang Peng, hadn't brought it up openly within the family. How dare Jiang Lai!

The moment Jiang Lai's words fell, Tang Yun's incredulous gaze landed on her husband Gu Hai, her eyes filled with immense shock. She couldn't believe her husband had been involved.

No wonder he'd been angry at her for saying too much when she introduced Jiang Lai to the old mansion that day.

No wonder his expression had been off just now, and he'd even snapped at Jia Shu.

The others were shocked too, but perhaps not that shocked. Everywhere, there were plenty of people who were cordial on the surface but at odds underneath. Not just in the Gu family, not just between brothers—there were husbands and wives who were cordial on the surface but at odds, and parents and children who were the same.

Tang Yun stammered, wanting to ask her husband why he had stopped his elder brother from finding his own biological daughter, but she ultimately didn't voice it. Still, her eyes had already conveyed the question plainly.

Seeing things had reached this point, Gu Hai sternly rebuked Tang Yun: "What do you, a woman, understand? Someone saw my sister-in-law abandon her child. If the crime of abandonment is confirmed, as the younger brother of the elder brother, how would my political background check pass?"

Tang Yun frowned: "Then, then..."

Gu Hai coldly swept his gaze over Jiang Lai, then looked back at Tang Yun: "The statute of limitations for abandonment is five years. Five years—where was I in my career? My footing wasn't even steady."

"Jiang Lai, don't blame me for this. Blame that ruthless biological mother of yours, who could even abandon her own daughter. She harmed my elder brother, and she wanted to drag me down with her!"

Ke Zhongying couldn't hold back any longer and shot back first: "The wrongdoer is the one to blame. Go after her. Why are you making things difficult for a child?"

She'd been listening in the Gu family for most of the day, and the more she heard, the angrier she got. What a vicious mother, a treacherous second uncle, and a heartless old master!

Gu Hai glanced at Ke Zhongying, his gaze carrying the cold severity of someone in a high position. Even a junior from the Ke family dared to bark at him.

Ke Zhongying was still a young girl, and one who had always respected her elders. The Nian and Gu families had a good relationship, so she usually addressed the Gu family elders sweetly. But an elder was still an elder; a single look from him still made her a bit afraid.

But she had a brother with great power and influence!

Ke Zhongying instinctively moved behind her elder brother. At the same time, Ke Zhongyu and Jiang Lai stepped forward in front of Ke Zhongying, shielding her behind them.

"Uncle Gu, I hope you've been abiding by the law all these years and aren't afraid of a thorough investigation." Ke Zhongyu had been silent all along, but when he finally spoke, it was a killing blow. "The anti-corruption wind should blow through the Gu family too."

In an instant, the entire clan's expressions changed.

It wasn't about whether they had a guilty conscience, but that once suspicion and investigation were on the table, the nature of things changed.

Everyone began urging Ke Zhongyu not to act rashly, not to disregard the bonds between the three families. On the other side, they started blaming Gu Hai—how could he have done such a thing!

Some of the clan's elders even demanded that Gu Hai apologize.

Gu Hai held a high position. Even if he was wrong, he wouldn't bow his head before a junior.

He wasn't afraid of a disciplinary inspection. If he were truly corrupt, he wouldn't have been stuck in this middling position all along.

But he was indeed worried about Wang Peng coming forward to testify against him regarding Jiang Lai's matter. However, that was all predicated on Jiang Lai's matter being exposed.

Besides, the Gu family's founding ancestor had once raised the Nian family's surviving elders. He didn't believe the Nian family couldn't rein in a Ke Zhongyu. Even Nian Jingchuan had helped the Gu family plenty. Ke Zhongyu wouldn't dare act against the greater good.

Gu Hai left on the spot.

Since Gu Hai wouldn't take this way out, Tang Yun had to.

Tang Yun walked up to Jiang Lai, her eyes red, and said, "I'm sorry, Jiang Lai, I'm sorry. We don't ask for your forgiveness, but please give us a chance to atone."

Facing this second aunt of hers, who shared the same surname as Dean Mom, the second person in the Gu family besides Gu Jin to truly welcome her, Jiang Lai couldn't bring herself to say it was impossible, nor could she say she forgave.

"Second Aunt, please don't make things difficult for me." She called Tang Yun 'Second Aunt' to show her respect for an elder. The latter part expressed her unwillingness to forgive.

Tang Yun wasn't an unreasonable person. In this matter, she felt both indignant for her husband and for Jiang Lai.

Even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes. She couldn't sort it out in her own heart either, so she could only apologize again and then turn to leave.

As for the old master, no one in the Gu family dared to question him, because they all knew in their hearts that everything he did was for the Gu family's sake.

But the old master himself couldn't save face, feeling both ashamed and indignant.

"Jiang Lai, a perfectly fine Qingming ancestral sacrifice, and you had to make it like this." Yet, knowing he was in the wrong, he couldn't even raise his voice at Jiang Lai anymore. The old master's chest was tight with suppressed anger. "I know the Gu family has wronged you. The Gu family will compensate you."

Jiang Lai's light, airy gaze fell on the old master: "I'll demand compensation for myself. No need for you to trouble yourself."

"What do you mean by that?" The old master's body trembled. "Don't tell me you're going to spread this matter?"

Jiang Lai: "What's wrong with that?"

The old man: "Family shame must not be spread outside!"

Jiang Lai: "My surname is Jiang, not Gu."

The old man fainted from anger on the spot.

In one Qingming sacrifice, Jiang Lai angered two people into fainting and drove one person away midway.